Electric welding machine



Dec. 17, 1935. c. L, PFEIFFER ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l AUM/mf /A/VfA/Tof? C. L PFE/FFER De'c. 17, 1935.

C. L. PFEIFFER ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. grlllm LII-Illu lum@ um i s I @7 a a9 a7 67 a 56 A27/:zr

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ATTORNEY DCC. 17, 1935. C, L, PFE|FFER 2,024,597

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Hwmm A @ORA/5y Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Application June 27, 1934, Serial No. 732,576

18 Claims.

This invention relates to electric welding machines, and more particularly to a machine for welding contacts to springs or other switch elements of electrical apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved welding machine of the above type, wherein contacts may be severed from a continuous length of stock, advanced to the welding position and welded in a uniform economical manner.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention as applied to a machine for welding contacts to springs or other elements of electrical apparatus, there is provided means for intermittently advancing a continuous length of contact material along a guide channel a predetermined distance past a shear. The shear is then actuated to sever a contact from the material, whereupon a jet of compressed air directed into the channel together with gravity causes the movement of the contact to a point where it is stopped by its movement onto a yieldable member, forming a part of the channel at its discharge end, the contact coming to a halt in advance of a reciprocable feeding nger. Thereafter the finger is actuated to move the contact into a predetermined position onto a spring or other element, positioned between an upper notched electrode and a lower electrode, within the notch of the upper electrode. Means is provided for operating the welding electrodes, the contact material advancing means, the shear, and the feeding linger in timed relation to complete a cycle of operations.

Other features and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side View, partly in section, of a welding machine embodying the fea- .E tures of this invention;

f .Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional .view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, cfa portion of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail plan sections taken on the lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 3, and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged detail vertical sec- 'frtions taken on the lines 1 1, 8 8 and 9 9, re-

spectively, of Fig. 3.

, Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1the numeral I0 designates a portion of a stationary vertical frame for supporting an upper welding head, the frame having a base I I.

Clamped between a two-part bearing portion I2 of the frame III is a sleeve I3 having laterally extending spaced alined sleeve portions I4 and I5. Screws I 6 serve to secure the parts of the bearing portion I2 together with the sleeve I3 held rigidly therebetween. By loosening the screws I8 the sleeve I3, which directly supports the upper weld- 5 ing head, is free to be rotated about the axis of the bearing portion I2 to various angular positions relative to the frame I0. 'Ihe purpose of this adjustability of the sleeve I3 will be brought out hereinafter. 10

Extending through and longitudinally slidable in the sleeve I3 is an upper electrode supporting and actuating rod I8 carrying at its lower end an offset member I9 upon which is supported a rotatably adjustable disk electrode formed with 15 a plurality of peripheral notches 2 I, the surfaces of each notch forming contact surfaces. A key and slot connection indicated at 22 (Fig. 3) serves to prevent relative rotary movement between the sleeve I3 and the electrode rod I8 at all times and 20 also serves as a connection between these members so that when the sleeve is angularly adjusted the electrode 20 will be similarly adjusted. The supporting member I9 for the electrode 28 is insulated from the actuating rod I8, as indicated at 23. 25 When the surface of a used notch 2 I becomes Worn or pitted the disk elect-rode 28 may be rotated to aline a new notch at the welding point. 'Threadedly carried upon the electrode rod I8 above the portion I9 thereof is an adjustable collar 24. Surrounding the rod I8 and engaging opposed surfaces of the collar 24 and the sleeve I3 is a compression spring 25 which normally acts when released to lower the electrode rod I8 and the electrode 20 carried thereby to firmly engage a contact positioned in the notch 2| of the electrode, at this time, with work upon which the contact is resting and maintain the contact under predetermined pressure during the welding operation. By adjusting the collar 24 upwardly and downwardly upon the rod I8 the tension of the spring 25 may be varied and thereby the pressure applied during the welding operation.

Extending through and longitudinally slidable in the spaced alined sleeve portions I4 and 45 I5 of the sleeve I3 is a plunger sleeve 28 having threadedly secured at its lower end a cone-shaped member 29, the inner diameter of the member 29 being tapered inwardly 'at its lower end (Figs.

l and 3) Surrounding the upper end of the 50 sleeve 28 andengaging opposed surfaces of the sleeve portion I4 and an annular flange of the plunger sleeve 28 is a compression spring 38 normally acting to hold the plunger sleeve in its upper position, as shown in the drawings. Longitudinally slidable in the plunger sleeve 28 and the cone member 29 is a hollow split chuck, indicated in general at 3I '(Fig. 3), through which extends a continuous length of strip contact material 32 which in the operation of the apparatus' is intermittentlydrawn, by the chuck 3I, from a coiled supply 35 carried upon a bracket 36 fixed to the sleeve portion I4.

The chuck 3| comprises two jaws 31 suitably supported upon the lower end of a hollow actuating rod 38 longitudinally movable in the plunger sleeve 28, the rod 38 and the plunger sleeve 28 being prevented from relative rotary movement by means of a pin and slot connection, indicated at 39 (Fig. 1) and the sleeve 28 is prevented from rotating in the sleeve portions I4 and I5 by a key and slot connection indicated at 40 (Fig. 3). The jaws 31 at their upper ends are tied together by a wire band 4I, cooperating inner and outer shoulders on the jaws and the rod 38, respectively, preventing relative longitudinal movement between the jaws and the rod. Diametrically opposite pins 42 xed to the rod 38 and fitting loosely in apertures in the jaws 31 prevent the jaws from turning on the rod. The purpose of preventing rotation of the chuck 3I and the sleeve 28 is to prevent twisting of the strip contact material 32 which is oblong in cross-section and which has a definite surface for engagement 30A with the spring to which it is to be welded. The peripheral surfaces of the lower ends of the jaws 31 are tapered to correspond with the taper of the inner diameter of the cone member 29. At its upper end the holler actuating rod 38 projects from the plunger sleeve 28 and carries an adjustable collar 43 (Fig. 1) and between the opposed surfaces of the sleeve 28 and the collar is a compression spring 44 normally tending to draw the hollow chuck actuating rod 38 upwardly to maintain the relative normal positions of the chuck 3| and the cone-shaped member 29, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper end of the chuck actuating rod 38, which is screw threaded, extends freely through an opening in a plate 45 fixed to the upper ends of a pair of spaced vertical arms 48 integral with the sleeve portion I4. Adjustable upon the threaded upper end of the rod 38 is a collar 49 which in cooperation with a pair of stop screws carried by the plate 45 serves as an adjustable stop for the sleeve 28 and the rod 38 in their upper normal positions (Fig. 1), under the action of the springs 30 and 44.

Secured to a depending support 50 carried by the sleeve portion I5, below the chuck 3l, is a pair of cooperating slightly spaced plates 5I and 52 (Figs. 1 and 3) between which is formed a channel 53 having its upper vertical end in aline- ,ment with the contact material 32 which is fed downwardly, the material being fed into the upper end of the channel 53 for a predetermined dis- .tance below its upper end at each feeding operation .of the chuck 3l. At its lower end the chan- Anel 53 is curved for the purpose of guiding contacts successively sheared from the material 32, by means to be presently described, one of the contacts being indicated at 56 (Figs. 3, 8 and 9) into a horizontal position between a yieldable member 51 and the plate 52, at a point adjacent the alined notch 2l of the upper disk electrode 20. The contact material 32 in the present instance has a cross-section, which is clearly indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, in which one side of the material is provided with a continuous tapered portion,

while the side opposite thereto is provided with a continuous semi-circular portion. The guide plates 5I and 52 between which is formed the guide channel 53 are correspondingly grooved, as indicated at 58 and 59, respectively, (Fig. 7) to freely receive the tapered and semi-circular opposite portions ofthe contact material 32 and the contacts 56, the plate 5I terminating at 63 (Fig. 3) so that the severed contacts 56 may be directed onto the yieldable member 51.` The contact material may be in the form of a bi-metallic strip as described in U. S. Patent No. 1,907,931 to Henderson, or it may be composed of a single homogeneous metal or alloy.

As above stated the abutting edges of plates 5I and 52 are slightly spaced to permit small adjustments of the channel. One side of the channel is closed by the member 50 and the other side may be closed if desired. It has been found in practice, however, that the escape of air through this space at its widest adjustment is insufllcient to interfere with the action of the jet of air, described later, in propelling the contacts through the channel.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 the yieldable member 51 is pivoted at 64 to the support 50, a tension spring attached to its left end normally tending to rock the member counterclockwise about its pivot against a stop pin 66 to effect a predetermined position of its right end relative to the plates 5I and 52, the right end of the member 51 being channel-shaped in cross-section (Figs. '7, 8 and 9). The tension of the spring 65 and the position of the stop pin 66 are such that the contacts 56 which freely move along the guide channel 53 are checked in their movement as they leave the channel at the point 63 and engage a horizontal supporting surface 61 of the yieldable member 51, due to the latter surface being closer to the grooved surface 59 of the plate 52 than the grooved surface 58 of the plate 5I', and come to a stop adjacent the alined notch 2| of the upper disk electrode 2D, as shown in Fig. 3.

Reciprocably mounted for horizontal movement between the upper 'end surfaces of the guide plates 5I and 52 and a block 10 carried by the support 50 is a shear blade 1I (Figs. 3 and 6), the left end thereof when moved across the guide channel 53 formed between the plates 5I and 52 cooperating with a stationary shear blade 12 carried by the support 50 to sever contacts 56 from the strip material 32 which has been fed into the The block 'I0 and the stationary faces being spaced and formed -to provide a continuation of the guide channel 53 (Fig. 4) Piv.- oted on the support 50 above the movable shear blade 1I (Fig. 3) is a lever 13 having its lower end operatively connected to the shear blade by means of a pair of lugs on the blade, as indicated at 14, and its upper end normally predeterminedly spaced from but arranged to be engaged by the outside peripheral surface of the cone-shaped member 29 carried by the plunger sleeve 28, during the downward movement of the latter, the outside peripheral surface of the member 29 serving as a cam face. A leaf spring 15 having one end fixed to the support 50 and its'free end engaging the upper end of the lever 13 normally acts to rotate the lever counterclockwise and thereby through its connection with the' shear blade 1I the latter is maintained in the normal position shown in Figs. l and 3 with its inner end vertical face which is formed similar to the groove 59 of the guide plate 52 alined with the latter groove to permit the material 32 to be fed a predetermined distance therebelow. A stop plate 16 xed to the support 58 against which the right end of the shear blade 1I abuts in its return movement serves to normally position the blade. It will be obvious that upon the member 29 being moved downwardly by the sleeve 28 a predetermined distance, which equals the length of the contact to be severed, and thereafter the chuck 3| and its actuating rod 38 which were moving with the sleeve 28 being halted, a continued downward movement of the sleeve 28 will cause the cam face of the member to engage the upper end of the lever 13 and rock the latter clockwise and thereby move the left end of the shear blade 1I across the channel 53 and in cop operation with the stationary blade 12 sever the movable shear blade returns to its normal position, the severed contact dropping into the channel by gravity. A shoulder 8| on the support 58 engaged by the inner end of the follower 88 acts as a stop for the follower during its return to normal position, in which position the inner end vertical face thereof which is formed similar to the groove 58 of the guide plate 5I is alined with the latter groove. v

A spring pressed plunger 82 is carried in an aperture of the stationary shear blade 12 at its upper end (Figs. 3 and 4), the inner end of the plunger constantly engaging the strip material 32 in the guide channel 53 for the purpose of applying a suitable braking pressure thereagainst so that in the return movement of plunger sleeve 28 and the chuck jaws 31 after a feeding movement the material will remain in its advanced position.

A jet of compressed air is constantly directed into the guide channel 53 at a point immediately above the upper surfaces of the shear blades 1I and 12 by means of a downwardly and angularly disposed channel 83 (Figs. 3 and 5) formed in the stationary shear blade 12, the lower end of the channel 83 communicating With the guide channel 53 just above the shearing point and the upper end thereof connecting with a supply line 84 communicating with a suitable source (not The jet of compressed air directed into the guide channel 53 in conjunction with the action of gravity quickly advances the contacts 56 as they are successively severed through the guide channel and insures movement thereof to their horizontal position between the yieldable member 51 and the guide plate 52 adjacent the alined notch 2| of the upper electrode 28.

Disposed at the lower end of the guide channel 53 and reciprocable in a horizontal guideway 81 formed in the yieldable member 51 is a contact feeding finger 88 (Figs. 3 and 7). finger 88 at its right or forward end (Fig. 3) is in the form of a vertical thin blunt edged blade, indicated at 89 (Fig. 7) At its left end the linger is circular in cross-section and pivotally connected to the lower end of alever 90 pivoted at 9| to the support 58, the upper end of the lever The being directed inwardly toward the peripheral cam face of the cone-shaped member 28 carried by the plunger sleeve 28. When the plunger sleeve 28 moves downwardly the lever 90 is rocked counterclockwise and the linger 88 is moved a 5 predetermined distance toward the right (Fig. 3). During this movement of the finger 88 the vertical blade 89 thereof passes through a suitable slot in the guide plate 5| and into the guide channel 53, and engages the contact 56 positioned between the guide plate 52 and the surface 61 of the yieldable member 51 and moves it onto an end of a contact spring 94 positioned ready to receive it. The spring 94 is positioned directly below a notch 2| of the upper electrode 28 which at this time is in an intermediate position, having been partially lowered, previous to the feeding movement, so that the contact 56 in its movement onto the spring 94 is entered in the notch 2 I, the angularly disposed opposite faces of the upper portion of the 20 contact engaging similar faces of the notch with a suitable degree of friction preliminary to the pressure .exerted during the welding operation and thus the contact will be held in a horizontal position while its lower semi-circular portion rests 25 f upon the spring 94. The upper surface of the contact spring 94 and the surface 61 of the member 51 are so arranged that the surface 61 is on a slightly higher plane than the surface of the spring so that during the contact feeding move- 30v ment of the finger 88 no obstruction will be encountered in the movement of the contact 56 onto the spring and within the electrode notch 2|. The disk electrode 28 at its right side is equipped with a disk 95 which is so disposed relative to the 3'5 notches 2| that it serves as a stop for the contacts 56 in their movement into the notch. During the movement of the cone-shaped member 29 to its upper normal position a leaf spring 86 mounted upon the support 58 and bearing against 40 the upper end of the lever 98 rocks the latter clockwise and thereby retracts the feeding nger 88 from the guide channel 53 to clear the same for the succeeding contact when it is severed.

The chuck actuating rod 38 and the plunger sleeve 28 are moved downwardly against the action of the springs 44 and 38, respectively, to effect their several functions by levers I 88 and IUI pivoted upon the spaced vertical arms 48 50 (Fig. 1). The levers |88 and I8I are bifurcated at each end, the furcations at the left ends thereof constantly engaging the uppersurface of the collar 43 on the rod 38 and that of the annular flange at the upper end of the sleeve 28, respectively. At their right ends the furcations of the levers I 80 and I8I are engaged in upper annular channels of collars |82 and |83, respectively, freely rotatable and slidable longitudinally on the upper end of the electrode supporting and actuating rod I8, the latter being slidable in an opening in the plate 45. Formed in each of the collars |82 and |83 directly below the previously mentioned annular channels thereof is a second annular channel.` Fixed to 65 the rod I8 below the collars |82 and |83 is a third collar |84 provided with a single annular channel.

Pivoted, as indicated at |81 and |88, to extending arms |89 of the frame I8 arev levers II4 and II5, respectively. A third lever IIS is pivoted at II1 to a bearing block I8 which is vertically adjustable in slideways of the frame I8. At their left bifurcated ends the furcations of the levers |I4, 5 and |I6 are engaged in the lower chan- 75 nels of the collars |02 and |03 and the channel of the collar |04, respectively. Upon each of the levers |I4, I|5 and H6, intermediate their ends, is a roller |I9, the rollers riding on rotary cams |20, |2I and |22, respectively, ilxed to a shaft |23 Journaled in the frame I0.

As hereinbefore described the electrode 20 at a predetermined period in the operation of the machine Is partially lowered so that the contact 56 inserted in the notch 2| thereof by the feeding finger 88 will engage the contact faces of the notch with a suitable degree of friction. An accurate lowering of the electrode 20 which is controlled by the cam I2I acting upon the lever ||6 the required distance is controlled by vertically adjusting the pivot bearing block II8 for the lever ||6 on the slideways of the frame I0 which will raise or lower the pivot II1 of the lever and thereby vary the initial position of the electrode 20 and thus determine the distance the electrode will move down under the action of the springk 25 when the cam |2I in its rotation permits the spring to act. The necessity of this adjustment is due to wear on the surfaces of the notch 2| or 'slight variations in the dimensions of the strip contact material 32 from which the contacts 56 are severed.

In the rotation of the shaft |23 the cams |20, |2| and |22, lwhich have a suitable peripheral contour, engage the. rollers IIS carried by the levers II 4, II5 and II6, respectively, and in cooperation with the springs 25, 30 and 44, which normally act to lower the rod I8 carrying the upper electrode 20 and raise the plunger sleeve 28 and chuck actuating rod 30, respectively, operate the mentioned levers in timed relation to control the various operations of the upper welding head. The levers |I4 and ||5 upon being rocked clockwise, through their connection with the levers |00 and |0I, respectively, at the collars |02 and |03, respectively, cause the levers |00 and I0| to be rocked counterclockwise and thus depress the plunger sleeve 28 and the chuck actuating rod 38 against the action of the springs 30 and 44, respectively, during certain periods in the rotation of the cams |20 and |22 and permit the springs to act during other periods in the rotation thereof. The llever I I6 which acts directly upon the upper electrode carrying roll I8 will raise the latter against the action of the spring 25 during one period in the rotation of the cam I2I and permit the spring to act during other periods in the rotation thereof.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the upper welding head, which is rotatably adjustable about the axis of the sleeve I3, is shown clamped to the sleeve by the screws I6, in such an angular position relative to the frame I0 that the rectangular-shaped contacts 56 will be delivered upon and welded to the spring 94 or other switch element with their length extending parallel to the length of the spring.

In certain types of electrical apparatus it is desirable that the contacts 56 be welded to the springs 94 at varying angles to the length -of the springs, for instance, at right angles thereto. In the latter case the screws I6 are merely loosened and the upper welding head as a whole is rotated about the axis of the sleeve I3 until it is positioned from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown by broken lines in the same figure and the screws I6 are again tightened. This angular adjustment of the upper welding head is readily permitted, without any other operation or disconnecting of parts, or in any way disturbing the setting of the machine, due to the use of the, annularly channeled collars |02, |03 and Il( surrounding the electrode carrying and actuating rod I9, in the channels of which the various l' levers are freely engaged.

The spring or other element 84 to which a contact 58 is to be welded is supported in a prev determined position during the welding operation upon a stationary ilxture |26 removably fixed l. to the frame I0. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the left end of the spring 94 extends from the nxture |26 into a gap between the upper electrode 20 and a lower electrode |21, the electrodes at the time of positioning the spring upon vthe fix-ll ture being appreciably spaced apart for the purpose of facilitating the positioning of the Although in the illustrated embodiment of the' invention the springs 84 are manually Mond on the fixture |26, suitable automatic means may l be associated with the machine for automatically and intermittently feeding a train of forward to the'welding position in timed rilation to the operation of the welding machine'. 1

The lower electrode |21 is fixed to a current l conducting plate I 35 (Fig. l) pivoted at |33 upon a vertical standard |31 ilxed to the base II. At its right end the plate |35 is pivoted to one end of a link |38 which at its lower end freely extends through an aperture in a lever |39 pivoted I at |40, the lower end of the link having thereon adjusting and locking nuts |4I, the alljusting nut abutting the lower surface of the lever under the action of a tension spring |43 opratively connected to the left end of the plate |35.4 Il' The right end of the lever |39 is pivoted tofthe upper end of'a bar |44 vertically slidable in in opening in the base II, the lower end of the bar carrying a roller which rides upon the periphery of a rotatable cam |45 fixed to a shaft |44 which 40 may be journaled on the base II, in a manner not shown. operatively connected to the left end of the lever |39 is a tension spring |41 which serves to maintain the roller carried by the bar |44 constantly in engagement with the cam |45. Also xed to the shaft |46 is a rotatable cam |43', upon the periphery of which rides a roller carried upon the lower end of a bar |50 vertically slidablojv in an opening in the base I I, the upper end of the bar |50 being alined with the lower end of 5 the link |38 and normally spaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he lower electrode |21 is insuplate |35 is an adjustable stop screw |52 which limits the movement of the plate in a counterclockwise directionand thereby the upward limit of travel of the lower electrode |21 during the operation oi' the machine. The lower normal o position of the lower electrode |21, as shown in Fig. 1, is determined by the position of the adjusting nut I4I on the link |38.

The peripheral contour of the cams |45 and las associated with the operation of the lower 5 electrode |21 are such and so timed in their action relative to each other and to the cams |20, I2I and |22 that at a predetermined period, in the operation of the machine, the lever |33 will 7 be rocked clockwise by the action of the spring |41 as the peripheral surface of the cam |45 recedes from the roller on the bar |44, which is attached to the lever. 'I'hus the left end of the lever |39 will move upwardly and the plate |33 u carrying the electrode |41 will follow, due to the action of the spring |43, the upward movement of the electrode being limited by the stop screw |52 with which the left end of the plate |35 engages. Shortly after this movement of the lower electrode |21 and during the continued rotation of the shaft |46 the cam |48 moves the roller and the bar |50 upwardly a predetermined distance to close the gap between the lower end of the link |38 and the upper end of the bar and thus providing a rigid support or stop for the lower electrode |21 during the welding period whichV takes place after the upper electrode 20 is lowered under full tension of the spring 25.

Although not illustrated in the drawings it is to be understood that the shafts |23 and |46 are rotated in synchronism at predetermined rates of speed, from a driving mechanism which includes a source of power, for instance, an electric motor and an associated speed reducing mechanism, the driving mechanism also including a clutch mechanism which may be set at will for either continuous repeat operation of the machine, or for a single cycle of operation, at the end of which the clutch is opened and the machine stops with theelements thereof positioned ready for the next cycle of operation. Also, a usual transformer and timing switch connected to a primary source of current, for controlling the timing of the current supply to the primary winding of the transformer in order that the current to the electrodes 20 and |21, connected from the secondary terminals of the transformer by flat strip flexible leads |52 and |53, respectively, may be cut on or off at the correct intervals during operation, have been omitted. The details of the ldriving mechanism for the shafts 23 and |46 and the means for supplying and periodically controlling the welding current to the electrodes 20 and |21 have been omitted from the disclosure for the sake of simplifying the same, since theirconstruction is obvious and a detailed description thereof is not necessary to a complete under- -standing of the invention. Reference is made to Hosford Patents 1,090,618 and 1,090,619 which disclose timing switches suitable for use with the machine described herein.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows: At the completion of each cycle of operation the operating parts of the machine are in the positions shown in the drawings and a contact 56 is positioned, as shown in broken lines, at the lower end of the guide channel 53 (Fig. 3) adjacent the alined notch 2| of the upper electrode 20 and in advance of the feeding finger 88, the contact having in the previous operating cycle of the machine been severed from the material 32 and delivered to the position shown. With the parts of the machine positioned as shown in the drawings a contact spring 94 upon which a contact 56 is to be welded is positioned upon the fixture |26. The shafts |23-and |46 are set in mof tion to complete a cycle of operation at the beginning of which the lower electrode |21 is caused to move upwardly, by the rotation of the cam |45, a predetermined distance to cause the upper surface thereof to engage the lower surface of the spring 94. The rotation of the cam |22 on the shaft |23 permits the lever ||6 to rock counterclockwise and thereby the upper electrode 20 to be lowered to a definite intermediate position by the action of the spring 25, the electrode still being held by the cam against the tension of the spring 25. In the'descrlbed positions of the upper and lower electrodes the contact 56 may be fed with a sliding engagement into the notch 2| of the upper electrode and onto thevupper surface of the contact spring 94.

In the continued rotation of the shaft |23 the cams |20 and |2|, with which the levers ||4 and ||5 are engaged, respectievly, are rotated and through the connected levers ||4 and |00 associated with the chuck actuating rod 38 and the connected levers ||5 and |0| associated with the plunger sleeve 28 the rod and the sleeve together with the chuck 3| are moved downwardly in unison against the action of the springs 44 and 30 a predetermined distance. This movement of the chuck 3| feeds the strip material 32 from the supply 35 thereof the length of the contact 56, to be severed therefrom, below the upper surface of the movable shear blade 1| and simultaneously therewith the cam face of the coneshaped member 29 carried by the plunger sleeve 28 riding against the upper end of the lever 20 90 rocks the same counterclockwise and causes the feeding finger 88 carried at its lower end to travel toward the right. After the material 32 has been fed downward the required distance the cam causes the rod 38 and the attached chuck 35 and moves the contact 56 previously severed and 30 positioned upon the yieldable member 51 adjacent the alined notch 2| of the upper electrode 20, which electrode had previously been lowered to an intermediate position, into the notch of the electrode and onto the upper surface of the u contact spring 94 supported by the lower electrode |21.

In timed relation with the positioning of the contact 56, within the electrode notch 2| and upon the contact spring 94, the cam face of the cone-shaped member 29 in the continued downward movement thereof engages the upper end of the lever 13 and rocks it clockwise, thus moving the shear blade 1| to the right and severing the length of strip material 32 previously fed below the shearing point. The `severed contact is carried to the left of the channel 53 between the adjacent ends of the shear blade 1| and the spring pressed follower 60.

With the contact 56 fed into the notch 2| of the upper electrode 20 and upon the contact spring 94, which is engaging the lower electrode |21, the cam |22 in its continued rotation permits, through a further lowering of the left end of the associated lever H6, the spring to act under full tension upon the upper electrode 20, which is thus further lowered and engaged under a predetermined pressure with the contact 56. Simultaneously `with the feeding of the contact 56 between the upper electrode 20 and the con-` 60 tact spring 94 the cam |48 on the shaft |46 acts to raise the stop bar |50 into engagement with the lower end of the link |38 and thus providing a rigid support for the lower electrode |21 during the welding period. Immediately thereafter the circuit of the primary of the transformer (not shown) is momentarily closed by the timing switch (not shown) and the circuit of the secondary,v which includes the leads |52 and |53, being closed through the contact spring 94 and the contact 56, the contact is welded to the contact spring. In` the continued rotation of the cam v|22 to complete acycle of rotation thereof it raises the upper electrode 20 to its normal position against the action of the spring 25 and holds it. Also the cams |45 and |48 in completing their cycle of rotation permit the lower electrode |21 to return to its lowered normal position.

After the completion of the severing operation the continued rotation of the cams |20 and |2| permit the rod 38 carrying the chuck 3| to first move upwardly, under the action of the spring 44, followed by the upward movement of the plunger sleeve 23 carrying the cone-shaped member 29, under the action of the spring 30, at the end of which movements the chuck has again gripped the strip material ready for the next feeding movement thereof. As the member 29 rises the lever 90 carrying the contact feeding finger 88'and the shear blade 1| return to their normal positions. The movement of the shear blade permits the follower to carry the sheared Contact into alinement with the guide channel 53 into which it drops and is quickly advanced therethrough, aided by the Jet of compressed air constantly directed through the channel 83 into the guide channel 53 at a point immediately above the shearing point, to its horizontal position between the yieldable member 51 and the guide plate 52 adjacent the alined notch 2| of the upper electrode 20. It is to be understood that the movement of the contact feeding finger 88 to its normal position is so timed relative to the movement of the shear blade 1| and the follower 80 to their normal positions that the finger is clear of the guide channel 53 before the contact 56 reaches its horizontal position at the lower end of the guide channel. This constitutes a complete cycle of operation of the machine.

Although the invention has been disclosed and described as applied to a machine for Welding particularly shaped parts, it is clear that it may 2. In an electric welding machine, a welding electrode, and means for feeding material to be welded, comprising a guide channel ending adjacent said electrode, means for feeding strip material to said channel, means for cutting sections from said strip material, and a reciprocatoryl element at the end of said channel for feeding said sections to a face of said electrode.

3. In an electric Welding machine, a welding electrode and means for feeding material to be welded, comprising means for advancing strip material at an angle to the welding face of said electrode, a curved guide for changing the direction of said material so that it will be parallel to said welding face, means for cutting sections from said material, and means for advancing said sections to said electrode.

4. In a. welding machine, a welding electrode, means for holding a piece of metal to be welded adjacent the electrode,y means for feeding an elongated piece of metal into engagement with said ilrst piece, said feeding means and electrode being mounted for pivotal unisonal movement about a fixed axis to vary the angle at which the eliongated piece will lie with respect to the-rst p ece.

5. In a welding machine, welding electrodes and means for feeding parts to be welded, said feeding means and one of said electrodes being 5 mounted for pivotal movement about an axis passing through said electrodes. I

6. In an electric welding machine, a pair of relatively movable opposed electrodes, means for supporting a member in welding position between 10 said electrodes, means for yieldably supporting an element to be welded to the member in a predetermined position adjacent the welding position for subsequent positioning on the member, means for guiding an element advanced from a plane 15 removed from said supporting means into supporting relation therewith, and means for moving the elem'ent from said supporting means and into a predetermined position on the member and between said electrodes. 2o

7. In an electric welding machine, a pair of movable opposed electrodes, means for supporting a member in welding position between said electrodes and Aspaced from one of them, relatively yieldable members for supporting an ele- 25 ment to be welded to the member in a predetermined position adjacent the welding position for subsequent positioning on the member, means for guiding an element advanced from a plane r'emoved from said relatively movable members into go' supporting relation therewith, and means for moving the element from between said 'menibers and into a predetermined position on the member and between said electrodes.

8. In an electric welding machine, a pair of 55' relatively movable opposedelectrodes, means'for supporting a member in welding position between said electrodes, means for yieldably supporting an element to be welded to the member inv a pr'edetermined position adjacent the welding position 0 for subsequent positioning on the member, means forming a channel for guiding an element advanced from a plane removed from said means into supporting relation therewith, means' for directing a blast of compressed medium into the guide channel and against the element to insure the movement thereof into association with said supporting means, means for moving the element from said supporting means and into a predetermined position in contact with the member and 50 between said electrodes.

9. In an electric welding machine, a pair of relatively movable opposed electrodes, one of said electrodes being circular and formed with a plurality of peripheral'notches, the surfaces of the 55 notches forming contact surfaces for engaging an element entered in an alined notch in the welding position for welding to a member, means for supporting the member in welding position between said electrodes, and means for rotatably adjustw ably supporting said circular electrode to present new notches at the welding position as they become worn, said circular electrode being normally non-rotatable.

10. In an electric welding machine, a frame, 05

a pair of opposed electrodes relatively movable toward each other on said frame, one of said electrodes having a notch, the surfaces of the notch forming contact surfaces for engaging an element entered in the notch for welding to a 70 member, means xed relative to said frame for supporting the member in welding position between said electrodes, means for supporting said notched electrode on said frame for rotation about a xed axis whereby the element carried in the u notch thereof may be welded at various angles to the member mounted in a fixed position, and means for closing said electrodes upon the element and the member, said means including means constantly operatively connected to said rotatably adjustable electrode in any adjusted position thereof.

11. In a welding machine, a pair of electrodes, means for feeding parts to be welded, one of said electrodes being mounted for motion toward and from the work, a lever having a pivotal operative connection at one end with said electrode for moving said electrode and at its opposite end being pivoted about a normally iixed axis, and a rotary cam for moving said lever, said latter pivot of said lever being adjustable for varying the travel of said electrode.

12. In a welding machine, an electrode mounted for reciprocatory motion in an axis and for rotary motion about said axis, and a work feeding means pivotally mounted on said axis.

13. In an electric welding machine, a pair of opposed electrodes movable towards each other, means for supportinga member in welding position between and spaced from said electrodes while in their normal position, means for feeding an element into a predetermined welding position on the member, a support for one of said electrodes movable to rigidly support the same after a movement thereof into welding relation with the member, and means for operating said electrodes, said feeding means and said support in timed relation to first move one electrode into welding relation with the member, thereafter feeding and positioning the element on the member, then moving said support into operative relation with said electrode, and finally moving the other of said electrodes into welding relation with the element on the member.

14. In an electric welding machine, a pair of opposed electrodes movable towards each other, one of said electrodes having a notch, the surfaces of the notch forming contact surfaces for engaging a contact entered in the notch for feeding to an electrical contact spring, means for supporting a spring in welding position between and spaced from said electrodes while in their normal position, means for feeding a contact into a predetermined position in the notch while the .notched electrode is in ak definite intermediate position for receiving it and onto the spring, a support for the other of said electrodes movable to rigidly support the same after a movement thereof into. welding relation with the spring, and

means for operating said electrodes, said feeding means and said support in timed relation to first move one electrode into welding relation with the spring, thereafter moving the notched electrode to its intermediate position, feeding and positioning the contact in the electrode notch and upon the spring, then moving said support into operative relation with. said electrode, and finally moving the notched electrode into welding relation with the contact on the spring.

15. In an electric welding machine, a pair of relatively movable opposed electrodes, means for supporting an electrical contact spring in welding 10 position between and spaced from one of said electrodes, means for intermittently advancing a continuous length of contact material along a definite path, means adjacent the path of movement of the material for shearing a contact from the material after a predetermined length thereof has been advanced therepast, means for guiding a sheared contact moving under the action of gravity onto the spring, and means for operating said material feeding means, said shearing means and said electrodes in timed relation to first feed the material, shear a contact therefrom and then engage said electrodes in welding relation with the contact and the spring.

16. In a welding machine, a pair of electrodes movable toward and from each other, means for feeding work between said electrodes, means for moving said electrodes apart to permit the insertion of work, means for moving one of said electrodes toward the work comprising a firm abutment therefor during the Weldirm operation, and resilient means for pressing the other electrode against the work.

17. In an electric welding machine, a welding electrode and means for feeding material to be welded, comprising a guide passage having a yieldable portion ending adjacent said electrode for supporting the fed material thereat, and means for directing a gaseous medium under pressure through the passage to propel the material onto the yieldable portion of said guide passage.

18. In an electric welding machine a welding electrode, and means for feeding material to be welded, comprising spaced guide members forming a channel ending adjacent said electrode, means for feeding strip material to said channel, means for cutting sections from said strip material, one of said guide members having a yieldable portion at said end forming in cooperation with the other guide member a restricted channel for receiving the sections and predeterminedly positioning them adjacent said electrode, and means for advancing said sections from the restricted channel to said electrode.

CONRAD L. PFEIFFER. 

